Needle driver and pawl mechanism for circular needle applier

1. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the driven position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, wherein in the driven position the needle driver is interposed between the pawl and the needle.

2. The surgical device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring biasing the pawl in the needle path.

3. The surgical device of claim 2 , wherein the pawl further comprises a ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle and the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle and needle driver to pass the pawl.

4. The surgical device of claim 3 , wherein the pawl deflects in a plane defined by the circular needle path.

5. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the pawl has a first end about which the pawl pivots, a second end having an edge that engages the needle steps, and a spring biasing the second end into the needle path.

6. The surgical device of claim 1 , further comprising a second a pawl positioned adjacent the returned position of the needle driver, the second pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction.

7. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the returned position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, the pawl comprising a spring biasing the pawl in the needle path and a proximal ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle and the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle and needle driver to pass the pawl.

8. The surgical device of claim 7 , wherein the pawl further comprises a distal ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path and allow the needle driver to pass the pawl.

9. The surgical device of claim 8 , wherein the distal ramp is positioned below the needle path.

10. The surgical device of claim 7 , wherein the pawl deflects in a plane defined by the circular needle path.

11. A surgical suturing device, comprising:

a needle comprising a leading end, a trailing end, an arced body between the leading and trailing ends, and two steps located at antipodal positions on the body;

a length of suture connected to the needle;

a needle driver that reciprocates at least 180 degrees between a driven position and a returned position, the needle driver adapted to engage the needle steps to rotate the needle in a circular path in first rotational direction; and

a pawl positioned adjacent the driven position of the needle driver, the pawl adapted to engage the needle steps to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction, wherein the pawl further comprises a ramp adapted to be engaged by the needle driver to deflect the pawl out of the needle path.